San Diego, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in San Diego, CA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- No watering
- 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily
- Applies to
- lawns, gardens, golf courses, parks, schools
- Governing section
- SDMC § 67.3803(l), Division 38
- Exceptions
- permits, erosion control, disaster repair, drip irrigation
Summary
San Diego bans irrigating lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas with potable water between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. under the city's water waste ordinance, with narrow exceptions for landscape permits, erosion control, disaster recovery, and drip or hand-held irrigation.
(l) Irrigating potted plants, non-commercial vegetable gardens and fruit trees, residential and commercial landscapes, including golf courses, parks, school grounds and recreation fields, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A customer may irrigate at any time the following: (1) as required by a landscape permit; (2) for erosion control; (3) for establishment, repair, or renovation of public use fields for schools and parks...
Full Breakdown
Under San Diego Municipal Code § 67.3803(l), watering potted plants, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and residential or commercial landscapes -- including golf courses, parks, school grounds, and recreation fields -- between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. is a prohibited water waste practice citywide for anyone using City water. Exceptions allow irrigation at any time when required by a landscape permit, for erosion control, for repairing public-use fields, for up to two months after disaster-related landscape establishment, for irrigation-system repair with an operator present, or for nursery and commercial growers using hand-held or drip/micro-irrigation equipment.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Division 38 water waste rules is unlawful and subject to criminal, civil, and administrative penalties under Chapter 1; the City may also install a flow-restricting device or discontinue service for willful violations (SDMC § 67.3807).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I water my lawn during the day in San Diego?
What happens if I water outside the allowed hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
How San Diego compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle water restrictions.